Ohio University reports decrease in binge drinking

By: Encarnita Pyle

The Columbus Dispatch - March 19, 2013 11:58 AM

Binge and other high-risk drinking at Ohio University has dropped 15 percent over the past six
years, said officials who hope this will help the Athens campus shed its image as one of the
nation's top party schools.

Every year Ohio University surveys students about their use of alcohol and other drugs, and the
reports show that students' high-risk drinking behaviors have dropped from 79 percent in 2007 to 63
percent in 2013.

"There is still work to be done," said Ryan Lombardi, vice president for student affairs. But
the statistics "show the trend is moving in the right direction," he said.

Ohio University is frequently cited in publications such as the Princeton Review as one of the
country's top party schools for the area's Halloween party and other festivals. Athens' Halloween
celebration dates back decades and draws as many as 30,000 students and out-of-towners to the
festivities on Court Street.

Lombardi said the university has been cracking down on student drinking since the 2005-06 school
year and making great headway including a seven percent drop in binge drinking over the past
year.

He credits the reduction to stricter sanctions for violations, increased education and awareness
efforts, and new intervention programs that have been added as part of a large overhaul of the
school's drug and alcohol policies.

In response to a slight increase in violations, OU has been offering students with more than
one alcohol or marijuana offense a chance to avoid being suspended from classes. To participate,
students will have to complete educational programs and community service and agree to live on
campus for an extra year.

The university has also instituted fines of $200 to $250 for the offenses.

The student survey was conducted online with 1,262 respondents from a population of 17,007
undergraduates on the Athens campus, he said.

Other survey findings include:

53 percent of students report having five or fewer drinks per week

14 percent of students choose not to drink.

11 percent decrease in students perceptions of their peers high-risk drinking.

70 percent of students do not use tobacco products.

90 percent of students are aware of the “Stop at the Buzz” harm-reduction campaign.

99 percent of students are aware of the alcohol and other drug judicial policies.